Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget Retreat topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kittitas County holds budget retreat; officials outline fiscal strains and priorities
Summary
Kittitas County commissioners met for a special budget retreat where the budget director reviewed structural fiscal pressures and proposed priorities including a net-zero General Fund goal, capital evaluations, and use of reserves. No formal votes were taken.
At 9:00 a.m. on June 25, 2026, Chairman Cory Wright opened a special budget retreat for Kittitas County and thanked the Auditor's Office for support in the annual process. The meeting ran until 11:20 a.m. and included staff presentations and breakout discussions on fiscal priorities.
Zack DeHaven, the county's Budget & Finance Director, led the retreat with an overview of the county’s financial position and long-term outlook. DeHaven flagged structural challenges including personnel cost growth that has exceeded recurring revenue growth, property-tax limitations, reduced grant funding availability, and ongoing operational deficits in the General Fund. He also presented proposed strategic priorities for the upcoming budget year, such as pursuing a net-zero General Fund budget, evaluating capital infrastructure needs, and using technology and consolidation to improve efficiency.
Departments received guidance on the proposed budget development process, timelines, workbook structure, and budget request procedures. The retreat closed with breakout discussions among staff and commissioners to identify potential investments, reductions, and other recommendations for budget development. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the meeting.
